Crowlers in the NW

The Growler Guys in SE Portland has a tap sticking out of the wall that looks like it's simply a feed off their Co2 tank. Maybe @TaborTime can chime in with details, but it doesn't seem like you would need to do much more than run a gas line.

Is the policy different at each location? The GG in SE Portland charged me $1 for the can plus the price of the fill.

 

Crowler pricing is the same for us as I believe the other GG locations are doing which is half the 64oz growler price plus $1. Same as our 32oz growler fill price.

 

Correct. We have two 'taps' the feed directly off our Co2 lines which we use for purging purposes.

 

$2 for the can is correct, we offered it free through the first weekend we had it (Ski to Sea Weekend). Haven't had any issues with the cost, as it still remains cheaper than filling a new 32oz Growler. It has been a great seller for us and I am happy to offer it. I think that anywhere from $1-$2 for the can itself is fair enough, if even just for the convenience factor of being able to take fresh beer wherever I'd like to. I'm not going to backpack, golf, etc... with a 32oz glass growler, but thats just me.

Also have to keep in mind that Growler Guys bulk of business is built off of growler fills, (I've never been to one, so correct me if I am wrong). Whereas we have more of a focus on bottles, we can't possibly move as many growlers as GG. I think that with the volume they do that it is likely easier to build the additional cost of the can into the fill price.

Cheers!

That's true as well, in a larger market like Seattle or Portland with multiple businesses with Crowlers, it makes a lot of sense to shop for the best deal. We also have to remember that not every consumer has a Growler (or six) to just run home and grab, it's a nice option, and it remains cheaper than a new 32oz growler as well.

We would need to run another Co2 line for that to work, but it looks like we're headed in that direction to make it right, and provide the best fill possible.

 

$1 surcharge for a sealed grenade is worth it!

 

Except the fact that the $4 mini growler can be reused endlessly. $2 for a one-and-done container is a deal breaker, and seems to defeat the purpose the crowler was designed for.

 

What do you believe the Crowler was designed for? It was never meant to be reused endlessly, that clearly already exists in the marketplace. It was designed for portability, and ease of use/travel. It's much easier to take an aluminum can on a hike, on a boat, to the golf course, than it is to bring a 32 or 64oz glass growler anywhere, not to mention shipping. The Crowler also remains fresher when compared to a conventional glass growler, there is a 100% air tight seal, and the container is completely sheltered from light. I will agree that for just taking beer home for enjoyment, that a 32 or 64oz growler is the way to go. But if I am going to be camping for the weekend, or on the golf course, I would much much rather have a 32oz can that I don't have to worry about as much as I would a glass container.

Each container has its benefits and drawbacks, that's for sure. As long as there is good beer in it, then it doesn't matter to me.

 

Right, but would you buy a six pack of Field 41 if every can cost $2, above the price of the beer? No, and neither would anyone else. I might pay $1 for the convenience of the can, but $.50 seems more reasonable. And that is added to the slight upcharge a person is paying by buying 32oz vs 64. The $4-5 for a glass growler is reasonable, due to the re-usability. Paying half that much for a 1 use container is above my limit.

Personally, I'd rather have 12oz cans available for filling, I'd be much more likely to grab 4-6 different beers, even with the surcharges, than I would a single 32oz can, that has a premium on it. $2 for the can + $5 for the beer = almost the cost of a sixer of Field 41. And, is equal to the price of a sixer of Bastard Kat at a couple mini-marts in town.

 

We're not talking about six packs of shelf beer. Commercial breweries buy their cans by the 100's of thousands. We're talking about taking home draft-only beers. I would happily pay $2 (+Fill), for a can of Bottom Cutter, or Hop Venom, or Nelson, or any other number of beers. I would also still buy Field 41 6ers for the normal price. What costs 50¢ any more? I do agree that $1 would probably be more universally liked. Also, the slight up-charge on 32vs64 is not a universal rule, I usually see 32oz fills cost exactly 1/2 of the 64oz price.

If you've found Bale Breaker for $7 a 6pk please let me know. I won't fight you for the Bastard Kat though, I still haven't been able to bring myself to like that one, which is weird.

 

My boss pulled the trigger and order a crowler seamer for Chuck's Hop Shop in the Central District! I believe it will only be offered at the CD store until after we remodel our Greenwood location. Shipping says it'll arrive late next week, but it's part of a larger construction project so I can't promise it'll be rolling by next weekend. Fingers crossed though!

Our homies that own Edison City Alehouse in Tacoma also have a crowler machine dropping next week too. I believe they're tapping a keg of BBomb to celebrate. 32oz cans of BBomb, my god!

 

Wax dipped crowlers!!

 

I can't speak for the one on the northside as I've only been in once (though they have recently announced they're setting up a small drinking area, so I guess they're busy enough to justify that), but the one on the South Hill (the one doing crowlers) seems to be doing quite well. I've never been in yet when no one else has either already been there or comes in while I'm there. There's also at least one growler station-type place in Coeur d'Alene now as well (a chain other than Growler Guys - I forget the name). I find that there's enough tap turn over to make it worth while to regularly check out what GG has. Recently, the South Hill GG had Goatnik (Iron Goat's RIS), and that's a beer the brewery normally doesn't let anyone have growler fills of. It went fairly briskly.

 

FWIW, the GG near me is charging $1 extra per crowler. For something I'll generally only do when shipping beer or taking it with me to family in other parts of the state, I'm happy to pay $1 for the convenience.